Lexical Summary saggi: great, abundant, greatly Original Word: שַׂגִּיא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance exceeding, greatly; many, much, sore, very (Aramaic) corresponding to saggiy'; large (in size, quantity or number, also adverbial) -- exceeding, great(-ly); many, much, sore, very. see HEBREW saggiy' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to saggi Definition great, much NASB Translation abundant (2), deeply (1), great (3), greatly (2), many (2), much (1), very (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs שַׂגִּרא adjective great, much — absolute ׳שׂ Daniel 2:6 +, feminine plural שֵׂגִּיאָן Daniel 2:48; Ezra 5:11; — 1 great, of image Daniel 2:31 (in vision), height of tree Daniel 4:7 (id.); of honour Daniel 2:6. 2 much, fruit Daniel 4:9; Daniel 4:18, flesh Daniel 7:5; plural many, years Ezra 5:11, gifts Daniel 2:48. 3 as adverb exceedingly, Daniel 2:12; Daniel 5:9; Daniel 6:15; Daniel 6:24; Daniel 7:28. Topical Lexicon Scope of the TermThe adjective שַׂגִּיא conveys exceptional magnitude—whether of time, honor, power, or emotion. Its occurrences concentrate in the exilic and early post-exilic period, with a single use in Ezra and the remaining twelve in the Aramaic sections of Daniel. The word consistently magnifies what is already noteworthy, thereby underscoring the sovereignty of God whenever the superlative appears on human lips. Literary Settings 1. Rebuilding the Temple (Ezra 5:11) The returning exiles describe Solomon’s temple as having been built “many years ago,” linking the word to Israel’s formative worship history. The phrase evokes reverence for God’s past acts and validates present obedience in reconstruction. 2. Nebuchadnezzar’s Court (Daniel 2) 3. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of the Tree (Daniel 4:10, 4:12, 4:21) Threefold repetition—“a tree in the midst of the earth… its height was great… its branches were long and its fruit abundant… whose height was great”—deepens the irony: human empire grows impressive, yet is felled in a moment by divine decree. The adjective swells expectation, making the downfall more striking. 4. Turmoil in Babylon (Daniel 5:9) Belshazzar becomes “greatly alarmed” when the writing on the wall appears. Even a decadent king perceives that God’s verdict is immeasurably weighty. 5. The Lions’ Den Narrative (Daniel 6:14, 6:23) Darius is “greatly distressed” by the trap set for Daniel and later “greatly glad” when Daniel emerges unscathed. The word frames the king’s emotional swing, highlighting God’s ability to reverse hopeless situations. 6. Visions of the Beasts (Daniel 7:5, 7:28) In Daniel 7:5 a second beast is commanded, “Arise, devour much flesh,” accentuating apocalyptic terror; Daniel 7:28 closes, “As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me.” The same intensity that characterizes ruthless kingdoms overwhelms the prophet, driving him to deeper dependence on God’s explanation. Theological Themes • God’s Supremacy over Earthly Grandeur Whenever human glory is labeled “great,” the narrative soon demonstrates that God’s authority surpasses it. The temple’s ancient greatness, Nebuchadnezzar’s colossal statue, and the luxuriant tree all find their significance or demise under His hand. • The Fragility of Human Emotion Kings possess “great fury,” “great fear,” or “great joy,” yet these feelings change rapidly (Daniel 2:12; 5:9; 6:23). The adjective underscores volatility, contrasting with the steadfastness of the “King of heaven” (Daniel 4:37). • Eschatological Magnitude Daniel 7 uses the term to amplify the terror and scope of end-time kingdoms. The final vision invites readers to anticipate an even “greater” dominion—“an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:27). Ministry Implications 1. Exalting God’s Works When preaching historical texts, highlight how Scripture deliberately intensifies description to turn awe toward God alone. The greatness of the temple or empire is not an end in itself but a pointer to the Lord who gives, removes, and restores. 2. Addressing Human Pride Pastoral application from Daniel 4 reminds believers that any “great” success is a stewardship. Pride invites swift discipline; humility invites lasting fruit. 3. Comfort amid Distress The same word that marks extreme royal anxiety also marks Daniel’s profound relief. Encourage congregations that God can flip “great distress” into “great joy” without altering His purposes. 4. Teaching Prophetic Hope In eschatological study, underscore that terrifying “great” powers ultimately fall before the Son of Man. This balances realism about worldly evil with confidence in Christ’s final victory. Historical Significance The concentration of שַׂגִּיא in Daniel aligns with the book’s Aramaic sections, reflecting the imperial lingua franca of the day. Its usage allowed Jewish exiles to communicate the incomparable greatness of their God within the public square of Babylon and Persia. The term’s presence in Ezra, written partly in Aramaic, further reveals how post-exilic communities framed their identity: they were rebuilding something “exceedingly long-standing,” a house dedicated to the God whose greatness endures beyond exile. Conclusion שַׂגִּיא consistently magnifies scale, emotion, and honor, only to redirect attention to the Lord’s unchallenged sovereignty. Whether employed to describe temples, trees, terror, or triumph, its superlative force reminds readers that every manifestation of greatness—human or historical—finds its true measure in relationship to the Most High God. Forms and Transliterations שַׂגִּ֑יא שַׂגִּ֔יא שַׂגִּ֣יא שַׂגִּ֣יא ׀ שַׂגִּֽיא׃ שַׂגִּיא֙ שַׂגִּיאָ֔ן שַׂגִּיאָן֙ שגיא שגיא׃ שגיאן śag·gî śag·gî·’ān sagGi śaggî śaggî’ān saggiAnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 5:11 HEB: דְּנָה֙ שְׁנִ֣ין שַׂגִּיאָ֔ן וּמֶ֤לֶךְ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ NAS: that was built many years KJV: builded these many years ago, INT: these years many king of Israel Daniel 2:6 Daniel 2:12 Daniel 2:31 Daniel 2:48 Daniel 4:10 Daniel 4:12 Daniel 4:21 Daniel 5:9 Daniel 6:14 Daniel 6:23 Daniel 7:5 Daniel 7:28 13 Occurrences |
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